International texts

I’m including a small sampling of texts which were important in Europe during the 18th century and earlier, and which may have impacted the French Enlightenment. They are in no particular order.

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Spinoza’s Tractatus theologico-politicus (in English translation). Possibly the most divisive Enlightenment text? Few wished to be associated with Spinoza after this was published in 1670. Digitized by Google Books. This edition published in London by Trübner & Co., 1862. It is also available at the Internet Archive in a very readable format. Spinoza was Dutch.

Adrian Beverland (Dutch, 1650-1716) developed a philosophy of original sin that intended to ensure the emancipation of the libido, and in particular, women’s sexuality. Peccatum originale. Digitized by Gallica. This edition published in Eleutheropoli, 1678 in Latin. It is also available in French translation as État de l’homme dans le péché originel, published in 1714.

Bernard de Mandeville (born in the Netherlands, died in England). La fable des abeilles, ou Les fripons devenus honnêtes gens. Traduit de l’Anglais. Digitized by Gallica. Based on the 6th edition, published in London in 1740. Tome premier. Tome Second. Tome troisième. Tome quatrième.

John Locke’s A letter concerning toleration was originally written in Latin as Epistola de Tolerentia, and was published anonymously. It was one of several essays on religious toleration circulation in the 18th century. Digitized by Google Books, 1689.

John Toland’s Christianity not mysterious was exceptionally controversial. The subtitle “no Christian doctrine can be properly call’d a mystery” describes Toland’s argument. The book was burned in Ireland, only narrowly escaping the same fate in England. Digitized by Google Books, Published in London in 1702.